VOA标准英语2009-Muslim Pilgrims Ascend Mount Arafat in Annua

A vast sea of white-cloaked pilgrims gathered inside and outside the Namera mosque¹ on Mount Arafat to hear the afternoon call to prayer on the second day of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

Edward Yeranian | Cairo, Egypt 26 November 2009

Muslim pilgrims leave Arafat to Muzdalifah for the next step in the Hajj, near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, 26 Nov. 2009

About two and a half million Muslim pilgrims are heading to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia, climbing Mount Arafat in the annual ritual. 

A vast sea of white-cloaked pilgrims gathered inside and outside the Namera mosque on Mount Arafat to hear the afternoon call to prayer on the second day of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

Saudi Arabia's grand mufti Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh told the pilgrims in his sermon that Islam faces many crises, including the grave issue of terrorism.  Pilgrims listened silently with some wiping tears from their eyes as the mufti described why Islam is dear to him.

He says that the Islamic nation is living through a bitter period, which prompts sorrow, when today's reality is compared to that of yesterday. There is a vast chasm² of difference between the two, he says. Muslims, he urges, must unite around their religion, because God is proud of it and he will protect it. He adds that he thanks God for the gift of this great religion and for the gift of our generous Prophet, as well as the Shariah law.

The ascent³ of Mount Arafat began before sunrise, as white cloaked pilgrims converged⁴ on the site where Mohammed is said to have delivered his last sermon, nearly 14 centuries ago.

Swirls⁵ of white smoke twisted and twirled in the air, propelled by gusts⁶ of wind, as the crowd swarmed⁷ around the mosque and prayer grounds, to pray in the sun.

Saudi Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja said that the eyes of the world are observing the annual Hajj and will be impressed by the spectacle of the vast array of pilgrims of different races and colors, from different parts of the globe, coming together peacefully.

He says that we've come here to show the world this great spectacle of millions of people who are present, side by side, black and white, all together in harmony. This image of unity⁸, he says, is the true picture of Islam, the authentic⁹ Islam.

Saudi government TV indicated that two million pilgrims are present in Mecca for this year's Hajj, noting that no serious incidents have been reported.

Saudi security forces, along with civil defense¹⁰ workers, and ambulance crews were deployed¹¹ to maintain order and to provide pilgrims with food, water, directions and first aid.

Meanwhile, a crowd of Iranian pilgrims gathered outside Mecca to chant slogans against the United States and Israel. The group's leader delivered a sermon by Iran's Supreme¹² Guide Ayatollah Khamenei in which he denounced the so-called crimes of the United States and others of what he dubbed¹³ "arrogant¹⁴ nations."

At sunset, pilgrims descend¹⁵ Mount Arafat towards the Valley of Muzdalifa, where they will spend the night, before returning, Saturday, to Mina, where they will sacrifice a lamb, cow or goat to celebrate their pilgrimage.   

1 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

2 chasm   

n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突

参考例句：

• There's a chasm between rich and poor in that society.那社会中存在着贫富差距。
• A huge chasm gaped before them.他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。

3 ascent   

n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高

参考例句：

• His rapid ascent in the social scale was surprising.他的社会地位提高之迅速令人吃惊。
• Burke pushed the button and the elevator began its slow ascent.伯克按动电钮，电梯开始缓慢上升。

4 converged   

v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally. 成千上万的支持者从四面八方汇聚伦敦举行集会。
• People converged on the political meeting from all parts of the city. 人们从城市的四面八方涌向这次政治集会。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 swirls   

n.旋转( swirl的名词复数 )；卷状物；漩涡；尘旋v.旋转，打旋( swirl的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Swirls of smoke rose through the trees. 树林中升起盘旋的青烟。 来自辞典例句
• On reaching the southeast corner of Himalaya-Tibet, It'swirls cyclonically across the Yunnan Plateau. 在到达喜马拉雅--西藏高原东南角处，它作气旋性转向越过云南高原。 来自辞典例句

6 gusts   

一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作

参考例句：

• Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
• Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。

7 swarmed   

密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去

参考例句：

• When the bell rang, the children swarmed out of the school. 铃声一响，孩子们蜂拥而出离开了学校。
• When the rain started the crowd swarmed back into the hotel. 雨一开始下，人群就蜂拥回了旅社。

8 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

9 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

12 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

13 dubbed   

v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制

参考例句：

• Mathematics was once dubbed the handmaiden of the sciences. 数学曾一度被视为各门科学的基础。
• Is the movie dubbed or does it have subtitles? 这部电影是配音的还是打字幕的？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 arrogant   

adj.傲慢的，自大的

参考例句：

• You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
• People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。

15 descend   

vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降

参考例句：

• I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。
• We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。